National women’s event IF: Gathering will simulcast in Midland

Published 5:39 am, Friday, January 29, 2016

Photo: Peter Kimball

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National women’s event IF: Gathering will simulcast in Midland

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In the fall of 2013, Austin native Jennie Allen gathered a group of women from various denominations to discuss an array of issues and to address a vision she had. The idea of a women’s conference that was meant to reach others well beyond her hometown. The result was the inaugural “IF: Gathering” in February 2014. Embarking on its third year now, the event will be a first for Midland.

“It’s a community event that has nothing to do with what church you go to. It’s about women getting to know each other,” said Lori Low, Stonegate Fellowship’s women’s coordinator. “Sometimes, women tend to be adversaries to one another and maybe don’t support each other like we should. I like the idea and value of coming together.”

The intention of these forums is to help women with essential questions of faith, aspirations and to ultimately connect with each other and God.

This year, both Stonegate Fellowship and Golf Course Road Church of Christ will host the simulcast.

“This is our first time hosting,” Low said. “(Golf Course) is doing it separately at their own church, but, when we heard they were doing it, we decided to ban together.”

This year’s theme is the relationship between Christian women and Jesus.

“It's effective because it brings to women the truth, love and hope of Jesus, which has the power to transform lives,” said Leah Ellis, one of Golf Course Church’s organizers for the event. “It gives women a space to learn more about being a Christ follower and to be encouraged in their faith through good, solid biblical teaching and by being a part of a community of women who are seeking the same.”

Food and childcare will be provided at both, which is a big sticking point for women when deciding on whether to attend events like these, Low said. She believes that’s important for women to band together rather than to compete in life.

“We get so caught up in our spouses and our children,” Low said. “We have to be intentional to stop and take time for ourselves. We need to take a break from the norm, and we just don’t give ourselves permission to do that.”

The Reporter-Telegram reached out to Jennie Allen but she declined to be interviewed for this article.

In 2014, Allen told the Huffington Post that women’s issues that drive other events and conferences are not the focus for “IF.”

“We gather in a new way because we’re not driven by women’s issues,” Allen said. “We’ve grown up in a different context.”

Instead, the assemblies rally around larger and broader topics, and because of technology, Allen’s brain child has spread rapidly to many communities — just like her vision intended.

Golf Course Church of Christ will host IF: Gathering on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. and Feb 6. at 9 a.m., Stonegate will host on Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. and Feb. 6 at 9 a.m. To register and attend the Golf Course Church of Christ visit register.ifgathering.com/event/ifmidland, and for Stonegate, visit register.ifgathering.com/event/ifpermian-basin.